Ledger lock



Jan. 29, 1929.

C. L. HARVEY LFJDGER LOCK Filed Jan. 27, 1926 Cameo/1 L4. HARVEY- Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATES COQBON L. HARVEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LEIDGER LOCK;

Application filed January 27, 1926. Serial No. 84,118.

My invention relates to loose leaf binders of the type shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,50%,040, issued to me August 5, 192a, and consisting in improvements in the back frame.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved back frame construction wherein the post engaging strips are resiliently held in engaged and disengaged positions.

A further object is to utilize the same member for holding the post engaging strips engaged or disengaged.

A still further Object is to provide means for disengaging the post engaging strips in the event that they should become accidentally partially disengaged.

\Vith the foregoing and otner objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view with a side of the upper frame bar removed to show the mechanism therein.

Figure 2 is a top view of the back frame with the top removed showing the parts in post engaged position.

Figure 3 is a top view of the back frame with the top removed showing the parts in engaged position,

The numeral 1 in the drawings indicates the base member of my improved ledger book. 2 are expansible binding posts fixed in the base 1 and extending into the back frame 3. Annular grooves 4 are provided on the upper ends of these binding posts interiorly of the back frame 3.

T he back frame 3 is a hollow member composed of two U-shaped metallic strips and 6 whose legs overlap. Lugs 7 and 8 close the ends of the hollow back frame. Openings 9 and 10 are provided in lugs 7 and 8 for the introduction of the binding posts 2. Post engaging strips 11 and 12 are oppositely disposed longitudinally of the back frame and have their inner ends pivotally mounted on a disk 1-3. This disk 18 is centrally located and mounted for rotation on a pin 14. The outer ends of the post engaging strips 11 and 12 are notched for engagement with the annular grooves 4 of the binding posts 2. An operating arm 15 has one of its ends pinned to disk 13. The free end of arm 15 lies adjacent to a depressed portion 16 in the top memher 5 of my back frame. A longitudinal slot 1.? is located in this depressed portion and a button 18 projects interiorly of the back frame through slots 17 and is fastened to the free end of the operating arm 15.

The body portion of the button 18 lies entirely within the depressed portion so that in the handling of the ledger it is not apt to be accidentally actuated which would release the mechanism. The post engaging strips 11 and 12 are fastened to disk 13 at diametrically opposite points. The operatin g arm 15 is so arran. ,,od that when it is moved longitudinally of the back frame it rotates disk 13 and through this medium transmits longitudinal motion to the pest engaging strips 11 and 12.

It can be readily seen that the longitudinal motion of stri] 11 and 12 is in opposite directions. The length of slot 17 limits the possible rotation of disk 13 and consequentlv the longitudinal movement of strips 11 and 12 through the medium of operating arm 15 and the button 18.

The length of slot 1'? such that disk 13 is allowed slightly more than one-quarter of a revolution of movement. A blade spring 19 has its end set between the side of the end lug 10 and. the upstanding portion of the U-shaped back frame member 6 so that it projects inwardly slightlyless than one-half of the length of the hollow back frame. The tension of this spring is such that it bears toward the middle of the frame and against the edge of the post eng gin strip 12. An upstanding lug 2O provided on strip 12 to prevent the spring 19 from slipping beyond the edge. I

The parts of my loose leaf binder are so arranged that when the post engaging strips 11 and 12 are fully extended, spring 19 bears against strip 12 and lug and resists the withdrawal of the strips as shown in Figure Vihen the mechanism is actuated by the operating arm 15 the inner ends of strips 11. and 12 which are connected to disk 13 move not only longitudinally but also sideways. The transverse movement of strip 12 increases the tension of spring 19 throughout approximately ninety degrees or one-quarter revolution. Beyond this point it begins to decrease. The are of movement of the inner end of strip 12 is such that spring 19 is compressed throughout the major portion. of the unlatehing movement, a dead center is passed, and the spring is slightly released during the remaining movement. When the post engaging strips are in released position as shown in Figure 3, the spring 19 tends to further rotate disk 13 in the direction of the releasing movement through the medium of strip 12 but is prevented from doing soby the contact of button 18 With the end of slot 17. This tendency of spring 19, however, firmly holds the mechanism in released position until the button 18 is moved to shift the disk 13 past the dead center position when the spring Will act to engage or assist in the engagement of strips 11 and 12 With the binding posts 2. The spring alsoholds the parts in extended or post engaging position until button 18 is shifted sufficiently to inov'ethe disk to or beyond the dead center. ButtonlS must beinov'ed through approximately three-quarters of its possible travel in the disengaging movement to shift the disk beyond the dead Center. .This arrangement is provided in the event that the button should be accidentally moved in handling the ledger 'to'ininimize the danger of separation of the back frame from the posts 52.

It ,can be readily seen that unless the button 18 is moved sufficiently to shift the parts to or beyond the dead center position, the

spring 19 will restore the mechanism to a fully engaged position.

It Will be understood that lninorchange's in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, Without departing from the spirit of inyinvention as expressed in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination 'With a post, of a hollow back frame, said back frame'having mounted therein a slidable post-engaging strip having engaged and disengaged positions and resilient means resisting the movement of said strip from either of said positions.

2 In a loose leaf hinder, the combination With binding'posts, of a hollow back frame, strips in said back frame linked togethed for movement inopposite directions into postengag'ed and disengaged positions, and a resilient member bearing againstone of said strips and acting to yieldingly hold both strips in post engagedand disengagedpositions. 7

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this18thday 'of "January, 1926.

'G/LJHARVEY. 

